A Transformative Encounter
The United Nations headquarters stands as a beacon of global cooperation, its iconic building reaching skyward over the East River. Yet for the Florida Atlantic University delegates representing the Leon Charney Diplomacy Program, the most inspiring moment of our Model UN journey came not from the grand architecture but from an encounter with a woman whose quiet passion for peace rivals the institution itself: Tzili Charney.
As we gathered in a small conference room away from the bustle of committee sessions, there was a palpable shift in energy when Tzili entered. Her warm smile and attentive gaze immediately communicated what we would soon discover—here was someone who didn't just talk about diplomacy but embodied it through genuine connection. This human-centered approach to peace-building was refreshing and profound for students trained in the formal procedures of international relations.
"Meeting Tzili Charney transformed my understanding of what diplomacy truly means," recalls Hila Matitiaev, a freshman in Interdisciplinary Studies Pre-Law. "Beyond the protocols and procedures, she showed us that real change happens through authentic human connection. Her eyes lit up when she talked about bringing young people together across conflict lines—it wasn't abstract theory, but living passion."
This essay captures how the vision of both Leon and Tzili Charney, manifested through the Charney Resolution Center, has transformed our approach to diplomacy and conflict resolution. Our Model UN experience became not just an academic exercise but a profound introduction to a legacy of peace-building that will guide our personal and professional journeys for years to come.
The Remarkable Legacy of Dr. Leon Charney
To understand the profound impact of our Model UN experience, one must first appreciate the extraordinary legacy upon which our journey was built. Dr. Leon Charney was far more than a successful attorney and businessman; he was a diplomatic force whose behind-the-scenes work during the Camp David Accords helped reshape Middle Eastern relations. As the trusted advisor to President Jimmy Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Leon Charney exemplified how one individual's commitment to dialogue can create historical breakthroughs.
"Learning about Dr. Charney's role in the Camp David Accords gave me a completely new perspective on what's possible through unofficial diplomacy," reflects Tarruck Wheeler, who represented our delegation in the UNEA committee. "He wasn't a head of state or appointed diplomat, yet his skill in building relationships and finding common ground changed history. It made me realize that diplomatic impact isn't limited to those with official titles."
What made Leon Charney extraordinary wasn't just his diplomatic achievements but the multifaceted nature of his contributions. As a television host on "The Leon Charney Report," he brought complex geopolitical discussions to mainstream audiences for over twenty-five years. As an author, he documented crucial diplomatic insights in books like "Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace," providing invaluable resources for future peace-builders. As a philanthropist, he ensured that his approaches to conflict resolution would continue benefiting generations beyond his lifetime.
Yet what resonates most deeply with us as students is the personal quality that colleagues consistently attribute to Leon Charney—his remarkable listening ability. In a world where diplomatic engagements often feature competing monologues rather than genuine dialogue, Charney's approach prioritized understanding before being understood. This fundamental orientation toward empathetic listening forms the cornerstone of the conflict resolution methodologies we now strive to embody.
Tzili Charney: Carrying the Torch of Diplomatic Innovation
If Leon Charney's legacy provides the foundation for our diplomatic education, Tzili Charney's ongoing leadership offers its living inspiration. When Tzili founded the Charney Resolution Center in 2015, she didn't simply preserve her late husband's methods—she expanded them into innovative approaches particularly focused on youth engagement across conflict lines.
Our delegation witnessed Tzili's passion firsthand during our time in New York. Rather than offering platitudes about world peace, she shared specific stories about young Israelis and Palestinians finding common ground through structured dialogue. Her face illuminated when describing breakthrough moments between participants who had initially seen each other only through the lens of conflict.
"What struck me most about Tzili was how she focused on practical steps toward peace, not just aspirational statements," notes Hailey Lobsinger, who represented our delegation in the UNESCO committee. "When she described the Resolution Center's educational workshops, you could hear her commitment to giving young people actual tools for conflict transformation. Theory matters, but Tzili emphasized giving people practical skills they can use in real situations."
The Charney Resolution Center's approach, as Tzili explained, centers on three core principles: developing empathy across dividing lines, building negotiation skills that identify mutual interests rather than entrenched positions, and fostering creative problem-solving that imagines new possibilities beyond conventional solutions. These principles wouldn't remain theoretical concepts for us—they would soon become practical tools in our committee work.
Charged with Positive Energy: The Impact of Meeting Tzili Charney
Our encounter with Tzili Charney came at a critical juncture in our Model UN experience. Three days of intensive committee sessions had left us intellectually stimulated but emotionally drained. Complex procedural maneuvers and entrenched country positions had created an atmosphere where diplomatic progress felt incremental at best. Meeting Tzili injected renewed purpose and energy precisely when we needed it most.
"I'll never forget how Tzili took time to speak with each of us individually," recalls Ryleigh Newman, who navigated the conference using a wheelchair. "When I mentioned the accessibility challenges at certain venues, she listened intently, then shared her perspective on how inclusive design principles relate to inclusive diplomacy. She said, 'When we make space for everyone at the table, we get solutions that work for everyone.' That simple insight reframed my entire approach to our remaining committee sessions."
The positive charge from this interaction was immediately evident in our delegation's demeanor. We returned to committee sessions with renewed focus and purpose. More importantly, we returned with an enhanced toolkit for breaking diplomatic impasses. Tarruck immediately applied this freshly reinforced approach: "In our environmental recovery discussions, I stopped trying to convince opponents with technical arguments and started using the active listening techniques Tzili had emphasized. The shift was remarkable—when delegations felt genuinely heard, their defensiveness decreased, and actual dialogue became possible."
One by one, delegates from other universities approached our team members, curious about the renewed energy and effectiveness we brought to negotiations. These conversations allowed us to share our university affiliation and the Charney methodologies that informed our approach. In this way, the impact of the Charney Resolution Center rippled beyond our delegation to influence the broader conference dynamic.
Applying Charney Resolution Center Principles in Committee Work
The actual test of any diplomatic methodology lies in its practical application, and our committees provided the perfect laboratory for implementing the Charney approach to conflict resolution. Across four different UN committees, we discovered how the Resolution Center's principles translated into measurable diplomatic progress.
In the UNEA committee addressing "Environmental Recovery in Areas Affected by Armed Conflict," Tarruck applied the Charney methodology of reframing entrenched problems as shared opportunities. "When discussions about funding environmental recovery programs reached an impasse between developed and developing nations, I used Dr. Charney's approach of identifying underlying shared interests," Tarruck explains. "Instead of continuing debates about responsibility, we shifted the conversation to how environmental restoration creates security benefits for all parties. This reframing helped build a twelve-nation coalition that successfully introduced funding mechanisms into the final resolution."
The UNESCO committee addressing "Protecting World Heritage Sites in Conflict Areas" provided another testing ground for Charney principles. Hailey found herself mediating between security-focused delegations and preservation-prioritizing groups. "I applied Tzili's emphasis on active listening before problem-solving," she notes. "By creating small dialogue groups where each perspective received full attention, we identified creative approaches that honored both security concerns and preservation priorities. The resulting 'cultural security' framework received unanimous support—something that seemed impossible just days earlier."
In the Chemical Weapons Committee, Ryleigh adapted the Charney Resolution Center's techniques for technical discussions with humanitarian dimensions. "When scientifically complex issues threatened to create division, I remembered Tzili's advice about connecting technical solutions to human stories," Ryleigh shares. "By integrating scientific evidence with narratives about affected communities, we built consensus around victim identification protocols that might otherwise have stalled in technical disputes."
Perhaps most impressively, Ryan's work in the GA 1 Committee demonstrated how Charney-inspired approaches could bridge economic divides. "The debt relief discussions between creditor and debtor nations had reached a procedural stalemate," Ryan recounts. "Using the Resolution Center's structured dialogue format, we created a roundtable process where each position received equal consideration. This format, directly inspired by Tzili's description of their youth workshops, broke a three-day impasse and led to compromise language on microfinancing frameworks."
These successes weren't merely academic exercises—they represented real breakthroughs in addressing simulation versions of the world's most pressing challenges. More importantly, they demonstrated that the Charney approach to conflict resolution offers practical tools that produce tangible results.
Personal Transformations: Student Voices
The most profound impact of the Charney methodology manifested in our individual transformations. For each delegate, the combination of Model UN experience and Charney Resolution Center principles catalyzed personal growth that extends far beyond diplomatic simulation.
"Before this experience, I viewed conflicts through a primarily legal lens," admits Hila. "The Charney approach showed me that while legal frameworks matter, lasting resolution requires addressing human needs and emotions beneath legal positions. This insight has completely reoriented my approach to my Pre-Law studies—I now see my future legal career as fundamentally about conflict transformation, not just dispute resolution."
For Ryleigh, the integration of scientific expertise with conflict resolution methodologies opened new professional possibilities: "As a Biochemistry and Data Science student, I've always been comfortable with technical analysis. The Charney approach taught me to connect technical solutions with human concerns. Tzili helped me see that bridging these worlds—technical expertise and human understanding—represents a unique contribution I can make in addressing global challenges like chemical weapons prohibition."
The experience particularly impacted Tarruck's environmental advocacy approach: "Dr. Charney's legacy and Tzili's ongoing work taught me that environmental protection isn't just about scientific arguments but about finding shared human interests in sustainability. My entire speech in the UNEA committee—'When we restore nature, we restore humanity'—reflected this Charney-inspired understanding that effective environmental diplomacy connects ecological health with human well-being."
Ryan's career aspirations underwent significant evolution: "Meeting Tzili and learning about Leon Charney's multifaceted impact helped me see that diplomatic skills apply far beyond formal international relations. Their approach to identifying common interests beneath opposing positions will strengthen my effectiveness in research collaborations and medical contexts where diverse stakeholders must align around shared goals."
For Hailey, the experience crystallized a commitment to cultural preservation through conflict resolution: "Tzili's passion for bringing people together across dividing lines directly informed my approach to cultural heritage protection. I now see preserving cultural sites not just as an end in itself but as a means for building shared identity across conflict lines—exactly the kind of innovative connection the Charney methodology encourages."
Collectively, these personal transformations represent the most meaningful outcome of our Model UN experience. While resolutions may remain confined to simulation, the diplomatic philosophy we've internalized will guide our personal and professional contributions for decades to come.
The Dual Impact: Academic Training and Charney Inspiration
Our Model UN experience uniquely benefited from the complementary strengths of two institutions carrying forward the Charney legacy: the FAU Leon Charney Diplomacy Program and the Charney Resolution Center. While distinct in their approaches, these institutions create a powerful synergy that enhances our development as diplomatic practitioners.
The FAU Leon Charney Diplomacy Program provided the structured academic preparation essential for effective Model UN participation. We gained the technical foundation for formal diplomatic engagement through rigorous country research, position paper development, and parliamentary procedure practice. This procedural expertise ensured we could navigate the complex mechanics of committee sessions effectively.
The Charney Resolution Center's methodologies, as shared by Tzili and incorporated into our preparation, offered something equally valuable but distinctly different: innovative approaches to the human dimensions of conflict resolution. These techniques—active listening, interest-based negotiation, creative problem-solving, and empathetic engagement—provided tools for breaking through the procedural gridlock that often characterizes formal diplomatic sessions.
Together, these complementary approaches created what Ryan describes as "diplomatic bilingualism"—the ability to operate effectively within formal structures while simultaneously addressing the underlying human dynamics determining diplomatic outcomes. "The Diplomacy Program taught us the language of formal international relations," Ryan notes, "while the Charney Resolution Center taught us the language of human connection across dividing lines. Being fluent in both languages made us extraordinarily effective."
This dual impact extends beyond our Model UN performance to shape our understanding of how change happens in complex systems. We've learned that effective change agents must simultaneously work within institutional structures while innovating beyond their limitations—precisely the approach Leon and Tzili Charney modeled throughout their remarkable careers.
The Charney Legacy Moving Forward
As we return to FAU with renewed purpose and enhanced diplomatic skills, our responsibility extends beyond applying these approaches to future Model UN conferences. We carry forward a living legacy—a vision of peace-building that emphasizes human connection, creative problem-solving, and empathetic engagement across dividing lines.
This responsibility manifests in specific commitments we've made as a delegation. First, we will integrate Charney Resolution Center methodologies into campus initiatives addressing community challenges. Using structured dialogue formats and interest-based negotiation techniques, we plan to facilitate conversations across political and social divides that often fragment campus discourse.
Second, we commit to sharing these conflict resolution approaches through peer education. Each delegation member will conduct at least two workshop sessions during the coming academic year, teaching Charney-inspired negotiation and dialogue techniques to students across diverse academic disciplines. These workshops will emphasize that diplomatic skills apply to international relations and challenges in business, healthcare, environmental management, and community development.
Third, we will maintain an ongoing connection with the Charney Resolution Center, seeking opportunities to participate in and support their international youth initiatives. Several delegation members have expressed interest in facilitating future dialogue programs that unite young people across conflict lines, directly contributing to the Center's mission of empowering youth as peace-builders.
As Tzili told us in our meeting, "The best way to honor Leon's legacy isn't through words but through actions that advance the work of peace." Our delegation leaves New York with inspiration and practical tools to advance this vital work. More importantly, we leave with a profound understanding that peace-building isn't just a professional specialty but a fundamental orientation toward human interaction that can transform all our endeavors.
Conclusion: Charged with Positive Energy
As we stood in the General Assembly Hall during the closing ceremony, the magnitude of global challenges in that chamber might have felt overwhelming. Yet, thanks to our encounter with Tzili Charney and our immersion in the conflict resolution approaches she champions, we felt not despair but possibility.
"I left that final session feeling positive energy," Hila reflects. "Tzili had shown us that behind the most intractable global conflicts are human beings capable of connection and that skilled facilitators can create spaces where new possibilities emerge. That perspective transforms overwhelming global challenges into opportunities for meaningful contribution."
The diplomatic journey that began with our selection for the Leon Charney Diplomacy Program and culminated in our Model UN experience has fundamentally altered our understanding of how change happens globally. We've learned that formal institutions and procedures matter, but equally important are the human connections that transcend positional bargaining to find shared interests and creative solutions.
As we carry this legacy forward, we recognize that we join generations of peace-builders inspired by Leon and Tzili Charney. Their complementary contributions—his groundbreaking diplomatic work and her innovative approaches to conflict resolution education—provide a historical foundation and living inspiration for our continued development as agents of positive change.
The greatest testament to their impact isn't found in conference resolutions or committee achievements but in transformed perspectives that will influence countless future interactions. In professional contexts, from international law to scientific research, community engagement, campus initiatives, and global challenges, we carry forward the fundamental insight at the heart of the Charney legacy: human connection across dividing lines remains our greatest hope for building a more peaceful world.
Charged with this positive energy and equipped with practical tools for fostering such connection, we return to FAU not just as more skilled diplomats but as more committed peace-builders—ready to apply these transformative approaches to whatever challenges we encounter on the path ahead.